Don’t Interfere In Bayelsa Polls, PDP Governors Warn Buhari; Party Vows Not To Accept Rigged Election

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Governors’ Forum, have warned President Muhammadu Buhari and other relevant agencies of government to desist from interfering in the supplementary election scheduled for Bayelsa State on Saturday.

The PDPGF, also expressed confidence in the ability of Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, to sweep the polls, adding that, his numerous achievements in all sectors of the economy in the state were commendable.

The group, which said the Presidency should ensure a hitch-free exercise, contended that “this is the greatest change the present administration could bequeath to Nigeria.”

The Chairman of the Forum and the Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko issued the warning during a courtesy call on Governor Dickson in Government House, Yenagoa.

According to him, Dickson is in a vantage position having led with over 33,000 votes in six out of the seven local governments already announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He pointed out that, the much-talked about change would be a mirage, if those in positions of authority fail to consolidate on the legacy of free and fair election bequeathed by the immediate past administration, adding that, during the tenure of the immediate past president, the PDP lost three governorship elections back to back, yet the heavens did not fall.

“We the PDP governors have an important message to the president and all those whom God has placed in positions of authority in Nigeria today; that the irreducible minimum of democracy is credible election. I think commitment to democracy and development must be commitment to credible election.

“We are appealing to all the major institutional stakeholders in Saturday’s election to please, for God’s sake, and for the sake of this country and our children and even for the sake of those young enthusiasts of the social media, who actually canvassed and voted for change, the greatest change you can bequeath to this country moving forward, is to ensure that we have a very predictable and credible way for people to access leadership.

“And when you talk about democracy, if you have passion about the development of this country, one of the critical legacies you can leave for this country is credible election because without credible election, we are not going no where. And I keep saying that APC must take a cue from former President Goodluck Jonathan who handed over power as a sitting President when his party lost, yet heavens did not fall.”

He said scientifically going by all the elections conducted so far, especially the last presidential election, hardly did any constituency record more than 30% to 40% turn out of voters, stressing that, the people are not expecting anything different from the rate of voters participation in Saturday’s election.

Mimiko noted that democracy is all about development and Governor Dickson has performed creditably well to deserve a second term, in view of the life transforming projects the restoration government has put in place.

“But I have no doubt in my mind that by Saturday, Bayelsa State will be rejoicing because Governor Henry Seriake Dickson would have been declared unequivocally as the Governor of the state again and the restoration will continue.”

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday said it would not accept anything short of free, fair and credible election in Saturday’s supplementary poll in the governorship election in Bayelsa.

This was contained in a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, and issued in Abuja.

The supplementary poll will be conducted in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area where the exercise was cancelled following widespread violence.

Metuh said that PDP had again rallied its formation in the state, particularly in Southern Ijaw, to use all means necessary in a democracy to resist any move to rig the supplementary election.

He claimed that Southern Ijaw was a well-known PDP stronghold and that the party would never accept any results that did not reflect the will of the people.

“Let it be known to all that the PDP is fully mobilised for Saturday’s supplementary election.

“Our members across Southern Ijaw have been stationed in every polling unit, every collation centre and every exit and entry point in the area, and have been directed to use all means available in a democracy to stop APC in its trail.

“Southern Ijaw Local Government is a well-known stronghold of the PDP and we will not in any way accept anything short of free, fair and credible election, abundantly reflecting the will of the people.

“Anything to the contrary will attract terrible consequences.

“We restate our resolve that never again would the PDP allow itself to be manipulated out in any election at any level, no matter the intimidation by the APC-led administration,” he said.

Metuh said that the party had called on its members and supporters not to leave the polling area after casting their votes but to remain alert within the distance provided by the law.

He also called on them to go ahead to use all means necessary to defend and protect their votes, should there be any attempt by anybody to rig the process.

“The PDP will intently monitor and keep records of activities, including all votes cast in every polling unit in Southern Ijaw and our members will not hesitate to unleash a legitimate anger, if at any point in collation, fictitious figures appear.”